HR 5184 Continues to Receive Substantial Support, Passes 263-147
The U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 9 voted 263-147 to pass H.R. 5184, which looks to restore full regulatory authority for manufactured housing to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The bill passed in subcommittee and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved the change to the U.S. Department of Energy’s role to an advisory capacity when it comes to energy standards for the construction of manufactured homes.
Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana and Housing Subcommittee Chairman Mike Flood of Nebraska introduced the bill. The Affordable Housing Over Mandating Efficiency Standards — otherwise known as the Affordable HOMES Act — moves to the Senate.
“As demand for affordable homes has surged, so have unnecessary costs, making the dream of homeownership slip further out of reach for Americans. The Affordable HOMES Act takes a practical approach by cutting red tape and regulations that contribute to pricing American families out of owning a home, which will increase supply and lower costs,” Rep. Houchin said. “I’m proud to see the House take an important step toward restoring the American Dream with the passage of this bill.”
The bill repeals Section 413 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, and ensures that the DOE’s final rule on Energy Conservation Standards for Manufactured Housing will have no force or effect. Section 413 directed the DOE to establish energy efficiency construction standards for manufactured housing, an abrupt change from the long-standing authority of HUD to decide on federal construction standards for manufactured homes via the HUD Code.
“This legislation is essential to our work to cut red tape and lower costs for hard-working American families. The Affordable HOMES Act cuts redundant regulations to help restore the American Dream of home ownership for millions of families,” Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, said. “Thank you to Congresswoman Houchin for your work to lead the Affordable HOMES and support our communities.”
Twenty-one members were absent and/or did not vote on the bill, while 206 Republicans voted for the change, and were joined by 57 Democrats.
MHI CEO Lesli Gooch said that today’s manufactured homes are built with advanced, factory-controlled processes and often exceed the energy efficiency of site-built homes. She said modern manufactured homes are built to high energy performance standards, with over 50 percent of new manufactured homes being ENERGY STAR certified and all exceeding current HUD efficiency standards.
“The industry has consistently advocated for meaningful updates to enhanced energy standards that appropriately reflect the unique characteristics of manufactured housing. Restoring a streamlined, effective regulatory framework under HUD will advance those goals and deliver lasting impacts across affordability, energy efficiency and housing access nationwide,” Gooch said. “We, alongside Americans pursuing homeownership, thank Rep. Erin Houchin and Rep. Jake Auchincloss for their bipartisan leadership and support, and we commend the House of Representatives for passing H.R. 5184, a critical step to achieving the dream of owning a home.”
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